History-loving teen Nickolas has the ability to go back in time to important events. Mixing real figures with fiction, the graphic novels convey the gist of the Boston Tea Party and the Salem Witch Trials (Witchcraft relies on stereotypes a bit); sidebars and appended information provide more context. Although vocabulary levels are uneven, these are suited to reluctant readers. Reading list. Glos., ind.

COLLINS, Terry . Stake a Claim!: Nickolas Flux and the California Gold Rush . ISBN 9781476539447 ; ISBN 9781476551487 . YOMTOV, Nel . Defend Until Death!: Nickolas Flux and the Battle of the Alamo . ISBN 9781476539454 ; ISBN 9781476551494 . YOMTOV, Nel . Night of Rebellion!: Nickolas Flux and the Boston Tea Party . ISBN 9781476539461 ; ISBN 9781476551500 . ea vol: illus. by Dante Ginevra. 40p. (Nickolas Flux History Chronicles). further reading. glossary. illus. index. notes. websites. Capstone . 2014. lib. ed. $29.99. pap. $7.95. Gr 3-5 A promising premise yields mixed results in this time-travel series. Without warning or explanation, 15-year-old Nickolas Flux is swept back in time to various pivotal moments in American history. Once on the scene, Nickolas learns about the specific situation at hand, such as the Boston Tea Party or the Battle of the Alamo. The illustrations suggest cartoon realism, while the panels are packed with action. A switch from full color to sepia tones help shift the reader from the present to the past and back again. However, the time-travel aspect comes across as contrived and artificial; Nickolas meets all the key players and asks all of the right questions from the get-go, and major historical figures such as Sam Adams have no problem revealing sensitive information to a teenager clad in blue jeans and a sweatshirt whom they have just met. Appropriate for educators seeking supplemental materials for reluctant readers.